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Bike Bits Vol. 16, No. 10, May 21, 2014
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This is the 334th issue of Bike Bits, Adventure Cycling's twice-monthly bicycle bulletin. Bike Bits is delivered to you, and 52,007 other readers, because you've signed up for it at the Adventure Cycling Association website, http://www.adventurecycling.org. Bike Bits arrives in text-only format for quick download and includes links for more information. We want to inspire you to dream and to live your own bicycle adventures.
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"Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends."
-- Maya Angelou
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TRAILS FOR ILLINOIS
Steve Buchtel, executive director of Trails for Illinois, contacted Bike Bits requesting that we reach out to our Illinois readers and members to spread the word about his organization's activities. "I have two initiatives right now on which Trails for Illinois' viability depends," Steve said; "the Illinois Trail Corp and the GITy Up! overnight ride scheduled for June 28 and 29." Here, respectively, are links to pages describing both programs:
http://igg.me/at/maketrailswork
http://trailsforillinois.org/gityup
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USBRS CAMPAIGN MATCH DEADLINE EXTENDED: JUNE 10TH
In honor of National Bicycle Month, we continue our "Build It. Bike It. Be a Part of It." campaign for the fifth year. The goal is to raise awareness and support for the ever-growing U.S. Bicycle Route System, which so far includes 5,973 miles of U.S. Bicycle Routes. Thanks to our members and other donors, in our current campaign we've raised more than $52,000 toward our $125,000 goal. Donate by June 10th to have your donation matched 1:1; contribute $50 or more and you'll earn a chance to win a brand-new Raleigh Sojourn touring bicycle.
https://www.adventurecycling.org/beapartofit
On a related note, it's also Bike and Beer Week! Anyone who donates $25 or more to the USBRS campaign from now through Sunday, May 25, will be entered to win a spot on any U.S. tour from Fort Collins, Colorado-based Beer and Bike Tours. Learn more here:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/resources/blog/beer-and-bike-tour-giveaway
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MUSIC TO OUR GEARS
Did you happen to catch the piece on "CBS Sunday Morning" last weekend highlighting the tonal experimentations of Steven Baber, aka Johnnyrandom? Speaking with interviewer John Blackstone, Baber said, "It all came from when I was a little kid, hearing the spokes of my bike and imagining, Oh, I wish I could play that like I can play these other instruments." Well, now he does. Most of us like making music on a bicycle, but who knew its parts could literally be so melodic? Watch the video here:
http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/the-surprisingly-melodic-bicycle
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HEARTS BEATING FOR BIKES
Eric McQuesten, founder of a Los Angeles-based nonprofit called OnePulse, describes the mission of his organization as "uniting charities and people through the power of biking." This summer, OnePulse has partnered with five charities for which Eric's team will ride after setting out on June 12th to bicycle across the U.S. from San Francisco to Washington, DC. "Throughout our journey, we will be raising funds, spreading awareness, and doing the work of the charities," Eric said; "things like rebuilding homes and starting farms/gardens for communities." Go to the following link for more, including details about the five beneficiary charities.
http://www.rideonepulse.org
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SHARING THE BIKE BITS LOVE
As you may have read up above, this straightforward, text-only newsletter now goes free of charge to more than 52,000 cycling enthusiasts worldwide. If you enjoy it as much as many readers say they do, how about sharing it with a friend or two? Just forward this email to your friends with a short note telling them why you like Bike Bits and encourage them to sign up on their own. If they aren't members, they can also request a free sample issue of Adventure Cyclist magazine, which includes the article "Road Cycling in the National Parks." A free bike-tube sticker will arrive with the magazine.
http://www.adventurecycling.org/resources/bike-bits
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BIKE OVERNIGHTS OUT OF THE BIG APPLE
Lukas Herbert of New York City recently launched a small bike-touring service called Gotham Bike Tours. It's aimed at introducing people to the bike overnight concept by leading them on three-day, two-night tours just outside the New York metro region. "While bike riding is becoming hugely popular here, a lot of people do not have access to personal motor vehicles," Lukas said. "This poses a major obstacle for doing a bike tour. Fortunately, we have a mass transit system that permits bikes, so we are setting up these tours with 100 percent access to mass transit." The idea, he added, is to remove as many barriers as possible to getting people out on a bike overnight for the first time -- or even the second or third time. "Then, if they do our tours, maybe they can graduate' to a bigger, longer tour, maybe even strike out on their own. Regardless, the goal is to increase bike traveling, which is a good thing." Tours upcoming this summer include two in the Hudson Valley and another pair on eastern Long Island. Click the following link to learn more.
www.gothambiketours.com
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MI CASA ES SU CASA
Spokes & Suds for CASA, a bike tour in western Montana raising funds for the Bitterroot chapter of Court Appointed Special Advocates, is slated for June 21. This year's route is a loop out of of Hamilton that takes in the Lost Horse and Lake Como areas; it all culminates in a bash featuring food, local brews, and music. Bitterroot CASA is dedicated to the safety, well being, and best interests of the children in the Dependency System of Ravalli County. Registration for the ride is $50, with all proceeds staying in the community to benefit children in foster care. Learn more here:
http://www.spokesandsudsforCASA.com
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WORLDLY BRAZILIANS
"Hello!" began a recent missive from André and Karla Cerri. "We are a couple from Brazil cycling the world since March 2012 -- the first Brazilian couple to go on a 'round-the-world trip by bike. We are in Bangkok now, after 18,500 kilometers, just waiting to catch a plane to Seattle. From Seattle, we'll cycle all the way back to Brazil in sixteen months. We would like to know if you can help us on finding families/friends that can help us while we cycle the Pacific Coast Highway. We just need places to pitch our tent." You can check out André and Karla on Facebook (it's in Portuguese) and/or watch their video on Vimeo, which is in the universal language of having fun on bicycles.
https://www.facebook.com/BikesAndSpices
http://vimeo.com/58988640
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BIZ OPP ON THE GREAT DIVIDE
Kimanna and Michael Cellura-Shields wrote to tell us about their establishment on the Great Divide route. Called the Organic Peddler Hostel, it's located at the turn onto Pinos Creek Road a half mile west of downtown Del Norte, Colorado. Ten beds are available, at $25 per person per night; hot showers may also be purchased at $6 for those not staying overnight. On the same grounds is the Organic Peddler natural foods store and, the couple wrote, "the Peace of Art Café, where we use mostly organic ingredients and make everything from scratch. We use our own eggs and local meats and produce whenever possible!" Located on the same property is La Casita Bonita Inn, available to rent for $95 per night, which includes a $20 voucher for the store or café. Find out more at the following site -- and anyone interested in owning an enterprise on the Great Divide route, take note of the banner declaring that "this business is for sale at an unbelievable low price!!!"
http://www.organicpeddler.com
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Until next time, click on http://bike.climateride.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&participantID=2939 to read a message from Rachel Stevens, the enthusiastic captain of this year's Adventure Cycling Climate Ride Team.
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Adventure Cycling Association is North America's premier nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring and empowering people to travel by bicycle. Membership is open to anyone and includes a one-year subscription to Adventure Cyclist magazine and discounted pricing on maps from our Adventure Cycling Route Network, which now includes 42,180 miles. To join, go to: http://www.adventurecycling.org/membership/
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